Transportable hygienic facility

ABSTRACT

A transportable hygienic facility comprising a wheeled frame means, a structural unit mounted on the frame means and defining an enclosure, and partition means dividing the enclosure into a plurality of communicating rooms. One of the rooms contains dressing facilities and another of the rooms contains bathroom facilities. The partition means are preferably retractable. The enclosure optionally contains panels which are pivotable between a substantially horizontal first position and a substantially vertical second position adjacent to a wall of the structural unit. Some panels can be used in the second position for providing graphic representation and other panels in a like position can be used as a picture screen, which panels can be used in the first position as, inter alia, athletic tables.

United States Patent [72] inventors David Francis Boyd, Sr.

Schenectady; Clyde Edward Cole, Delmar, both of N.Y. [2l] App]. No. 3,322 [22] Filed Jan. 16, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971 [73] Assignee Boycol Incorporated Albany, N.Y.

[54] TRANSPORTABLE HYGIENIC FACILITY 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 296/23, 296/65 [51 Int. Cl 860p 3/32 [50] Field of Search 296/23, 24. 65

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,032,581 7/1912 Barker 296/24 Primary ExaminerPhilip Goodman Alturney- Leon Nigohosian ABSTRACT: A transportable hygienic facility comprising a wheeled frame means, a structural unit mounted on the frame means and defining an enclosure. and partition means dividing the enclosure into a plurality of communicating rooms. One of the rooms contains dressing facilities and another ofthe rooms contains bathroom facilities. The partition means are preferably retractable. The enclosure optionally contains panels which are pivotable between a substantially horizontal first position and a substantially vertical second position adjacent to a wall of the structural unit. Some panels can be used in the second position for providing graphic representation and other panels in a like position can be used as a picture screen, which panels can be used in the first position as, inter alia, athletic tables.

MTV i j i 11 4 f 5 16 5); 44% r 71 5/ TRANSPORTABLE HYGIENIC FACILITY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a transportable hygienic facility and, more particularly, to one comprising dressing and bathroom facilities.

Hygienic facilities used for the dressing and preparation of participants in athletic events and for the toilet and other hygienic needs of such participants are practically indispensible for athletic and other related events. With the increase in the popularity and variety of organized participating sports, such facilities have been wanting, inter alia, because of the expense of providing such facilities. Where there are, within a general area, several locations where such sports activities are conducted, (for example, where a college or university or secondary school has several athletic fields or locations widely separated by distance), it is desirable to have a separate dressing and toilet (i.e., hygienic) facility at each location but in many instances, this arrangement is prohibited by the expense of such separate facilities. Furthermore, where such facilities are provided and are of a fixed-site construction (i.e., the structure is permanently located at the selected site), especially where such facilities are removed locations, such fixed-site facilities are often the target of vandals, which vandals often cause extensive damage to these facilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel, transportable hygienic facility comprising a wheeled frame means carrying a structural unit, or shell, which contains a number of communicating rooms, one of which rooms contains dressing facilities and another ofwhich rooms contains bathroom facilities.

The transportable hygienic facility disclosed herein provides a number of benefits, among which are the useability of a single facility at a number of different sites, thereby achieving a significant savings in capital expenditure for buildings, and the possibility of removing such a facility from an area ofa relatively high possibility of vandalism to such facility to a relatively safe area, thereby minimizing the possibility of vandalism thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic floor plan of a transportable hygienic facility constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the transportable hygienic facility in FIG. I, along with axis 22.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The novel transportable hygienic facility (FIGS. 1 and 2, both of which are not drawn to scale or proportion for simplicity) manufactured according to the present invention is comprised of a wheeled frame means 12 of the type generally known in the art, on which frame means 12 there is mounted a structural unit 14 comprised of a floor member 16 of substantially rectangular configuration and connected to the frame means 12; oppositely disposed sidewall members 18 and 20; and oppositely disposed end wall members 22 and 24, which wall members 18 to 24 are rigidly connected to the floor member 16. At the upper ends of the respective wall members 18 to 24 is a roof member 26 (FIG. 2), the structural unit 14 defining an enclosure. Structural units of other configurations than that described above can be used, also. The facility 10 can be drawn by a separate vehicle by suitable means, such as a tow bar 28, for example, or the wheeled frame means can be provided by a truck frame (not shown) to which the structural unit is joined. A partition means 30 divides the enclosure into two communicating rooms 38 and 40. The partition means 30 is comprised of a pair of partition members 32 and 34 and defines a passageway, or corridor, 36 between the rooms 38 and 40, as discussed below. Each partition member 32 and 34 is connected to a respective sidewall member 18 and 20 and is preferably retractable and extends over a major portion of the width of the floor member.

The partition members 32 and 34 may be comprised for example, of panels 35 which are foldable in bellows fashion or which slide over each other in telescopic fashion, the latter being shown in FIG; 1. The partition members 32 and 34 preferably are in substantially mutually parallel relationship and form the aforementioned passageway, or corridor, 36 between the adjacent rooms 38 and 40. The spaces between unattached ends 32a and 34a of the respective partition members 32 and 34 and their respective opposite sidewall members 20 and 18 provide access to the passageway 36. When the partition members 32 and 34 are retracted, they occupy positions (not shown) proximate to their respective supporting walls 18 and 20 such that the enclosure is substantially unobstructed by the partition members 32 and 34, thereby allowing the use of the enclosure as a single room when desired. Partition means of types other than the one described above can be used with this invention. As used with respect to the partition means and a passageway between the two adjacent rooms, the term define" includes both the complete and partial definition of a passageway by the partition means. Such partial definition can be an arrangement where a passageway is bounded by both a wall and a partition means, an example of this being the provision to the enclosure (FIGS. 1 and 2) of only a single partition member (e.g., 32) with the passageway being defined by the end 32a of the partition member and a wall member (e.g., 20). Also, the passageway can be an opening or doorway in a partition means extending across substantially the width of the en closure (not shown) or an opening or doorway bounded by two oppositely disposed, aligned partition members, each of which extends partially across the width of the enclosure, the latter opening or doorway being located between and defined by the respective ends of the aligned partition members.

In one of the rooms 38 there are disposed at the sidewall members 18 and 20 a plurality oflockers 42 and a plurality of benches 44, which benches 44 and lockers 42 may be disposed in an alternate arrangement (as shown) or some other suitable arrangement. The benches 44 preferably are hingedly connected at one of their ends 45 to the sidewall members 18 and 20 so as to to be pivotable about such connection. The benches 44 can assume a substantially vertical first position where they are in proximity with the respective sidewall members 18 or 20, as the case may be, to which they are connected (as illustrated by the benches indicated as 440). There are provided locking means (not shown) for retaining the benches in the first position, thereby storing the benches and making more floor area available when desired. The benches 44 are further able to assume a substantially horizontal second position raised from the floor member (as illustrated by the benches indicated as 44b) for use as seating facilities. The benches 44 can be provided with legs 47 (FIG. 2) or other means for support thereof when they are used as seats. In addition to making more floor space available, this pivotable (or foldable) feature of the benches allows their being raised above the floor, to the extent of the above mentioned first position, so as to facilitate the cleaning of the enclosure.

Within the first room 38 there is also contained a panel member 50 which is hingedly connected at one end 51 thereof to an end wall member 22 so as to be pivotable about such connection. The panel member 50 can assume a substantially horizontal first position raised from the floor member 16, in which first position the panel member 50 can be used as a table, or, where the facility 10 is used for athletic purposes, for example, used as an athletic table for providing massages, taping the participants of the athletic events, administering first aid, etc. The panel member 50 is adapted to be maintained in this first position by, for example, foldable legs 52 for supporting the panel member 50. Also, the panel member 50 can be further adapted for use as an athletic table by a pad (not shown) or the like which is detachably mounted on a first (i.e., the upper) major surface 54 of the panel member 50 in the first position, which pad provides for the comfort of the person being administered to. The panel member 50 is adapted to be raised to and held, by suitable means known in the art, at a substantially vertical second position (similar to that occupied by panel member 60, discussed below) where the panel member 50 is proximate to its respective end wall member 22. In this second position, the other major surface 56 of the panel member 50 which is opposite the above-mentioned major surface 52 and which is viewable from the enclosure, carries a chalk board or other means suitable for making graphic presentations to the occupants of the facility 10.

In the same room 38 there is also a pivotable second panel member 60 hingedly connected at one end 61 thereof to an end wall member 22 so as to be pivotable about the connection (now shown). The pivotable second panel member 60 can be adjusted to a substantially horizontal first position raised from the floor member, this first position being similar to that occupied by the above panel member 50 in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this first position the panel member 60, supported by legs or other suitable means, can, where the facility is used for athletic purposes, for example, be used as another athletic table, a first major surface 62 thereof facing upward. The second panel member 60 can be raised to and retained at a substantially vertical second position (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) where it is proximate to the end wall member 22. In this second position, the second major surface 64 of the second panel member 60, which second surface 64 is opposite the above-mentioned first major surface 62 and is viewable from the enclosure, carries a screen on which motion pictures and the like can be projected for providing information to the occupants of the enclosure or for other purposes. The structural unit 14 includes an entry means 69 whereby the unit can be entered and exited.

In the second room 40, there are a number of bathroom facilities, including shower fixtures 72, toilet fixtures 74, and wash basins 76. Where it is desired, the second room 40 may also contain a number of benches 78 and/or pivotable panel members 80 may be used for athletic or other events, for example, and subsequently removed to positions adjacent the walls.

The transportable hygienic facility disclosed herein can be provided with its own self-contained means for electrical power generation and/or facilities for the storage and/or heating of water or it can be provided with electrical power and/or water by means located at the sites where the transportable facility is going to be used, none of these facilities or means being shown. The facility 10 can also be provided with heating and/or sewage disposal facilities (not shown).

The transportable hygienic facility described herein can be used, for example, in conjunction with a fixed-site building (e.g., a school building) to supplement existing fixed-site athletic facilities or as a substitute for fixed-site athletic facilities. When it is desired, the transportable facility so used in conjunction with the fixed-site building can be transported to another location, such as a distant athletic field, where it can be used and, if desired, subsequently returned to the first mentioned or still another location either for subsequent use thereat or to minimize the possibility of vandalism on the facility. Where it is desired, the facility may be left at a removed location for extended periods of time, such as, for example, an athletic season and then moved to another location for a subsequent athletic season. While the transportable hygienic facility disclosed herein has been described in terms of the application thereof to athletic purposes, its use is not intended to be limited thereto but is intended to extend to other applications as well.

As used herein, the term bathroom facility" is defined to include water closets, wash basins, bathing facilities. and/or urinals.

We claim:

1. A transportable hygienic facility comprising:

a. a wheeled frame means;

b. a structural unit disposed on said frame means, said structural unit comprisinga floor member, oppositely disposed sidewall members, oppositely disposed end wall members and a roof member, said structural unit defining an enclo- Sure; c. partition means within said structural unit dividing said enclosure into at least two rooms and defining passageway means whereby one of said at least two rooms communicates with another one of said at least two rooms;

d. dressing facilities in a first one of said at least two rooms, said dressing facilities comprising lockers and seating facilities; and

e. bathroom facilities in a second one of said at least two rooms, said bathroom facilities comprising a shower, a toilet, and a wash basin.

2. A transportable hygienic facility as defined in claim I wherein said partition means is retractable, thereby allowing said enclosure to be used as a single room when said partition means is retracted.

3. A transportable hygienic facility as defined in claim 1 wherein said hygienic facility is further comprised of at least one panel member within said enclosure, said panel member being connected to one of said wall members and being adapted to assume a substantially horizontal first position spaced from said floor member and a substantially vertical second position in proximity with said one of said wall members, said panel member being adapted for use as a table in said first position and further adapted for providing graphic presentations when said panel is in said second position.

4. A transportable hygienic facility as defined in claim I wherein said hygienic facility is further comprised of at least one panel member within said enclosure, said panel member being connected to one of said wall members and being adapted to a substantially horizontal first position spaced from said floor member and a substantially vertical second position in proximity with said one of said wall members, said panel member being adapted for use as a table in said first position and being further adapted for use as a screen means on which pictures are projected when said panel is in said second position.

5. A transportable hygienic facility as defined in claim 1 wherein said seating facilities are comprised of a plurality of benches, each one of said benches being hingedly connected to a respective one of said wall members, each one of said benches being adapted to assume a substantially vertical first position in proximity with said respective one of said wall members and a substantially horizontal second position spaced from said floor member.

6. A transportable hygienic facility comprising:

a. a wheeled frame means;

b. a structural unit disposed on said frame means, said structural unit comprising a floor member, oppositely disposed sidewall members, oppositely disposed end wall members, and a roof member, said structural unit defining an enclosure;

c. at least one partition means within said structural unit, said at least one partition means being comprised of a pair of retractable partition members disposed in mutually parallel relationship. each one of said partition members being carried by a different one of said sidewall members and extending over. a major part of the width of said enclosure, said partition means dividing said enclosure into a plurality of rooms and defining a passageway connecting two adjacent ones of said rooms;

' d. dressing facilities in a first one of said rooms, said dressing facilities comprising lockers and seating facilities; and

e. bathroom facilities in a second one of said rooms, said bathroom facilities comprising a shower, a toilet, and a wash basin.

7. A transportable hygienic facility as defined in claim 6 wherein said partition members are disposed in substantially perpendicular relationship with said sidewall members. 

1. A transportable hygienic facility comprising: a. a wheeled frame means; b. a structural unit disposed on said frame means, said structural unit comprising a floor member, oppositely disposed sidewall members, oppositely disposed end wall members and a roof member, said structural unit defining an enclosure; c. partition means within said structural unit dividing said enclosure into at least two rooms and defining passageway means whereby one of said at least two rooms communicates with another one of said at least two rooms; d. dressing facilities in a first one of said at least two rooms, said dressing facilities comprising lockers and seating facilities; and e. bathroom facilities in a second one of said at least two rooms, said bathroom facilities comprising a shower, a toilet, and a wash basin.
 2. A transportable hygienic facility as defined in claim 1 wherein said partition means is retractable, thereby allowing said enclosure to be used as a single room when said partition means is retracted.
 3. A transportable hygienic facility as defined in claim 1 wherein said hygienic facility is further comprised of at least one panel member within said enclosure, said panel member being connected to one of said wall members and being adapted to assume a substantially horizontal first position spaced from said floor member and a substantially vertical second position in proximity with said one of said wall members, said panel member being adapted for use as a table in said first position and further adapted for providing graphic presentations when said panel is in said second position.
 4. A transportable hygienic facility as defined in claim 1 wherein said hygienic facility is further comprised of at least one panel member within said enclosure, said panel member being connected to one of said wall members and being adapted to a substantially horizontal first position spaced from said floor member and a substantially vertical second position in proximity with said one of said wall members, said panel member being adapted for use as a table in said first position and being further adapted for use as a screen means on which pictures are projected when said panel is in said second position.
 5. A transportable hygienic facility as defined in claim 1 wherein said seating facilities are comprised of a plurality of benches, each one of said benches being hingedly connected to a respective one of saiD wall members, each one of said benches being adapted to assume a substantially vertical first position in proximity with said respective one of said wall members and a substantially horizontal second position spaced from said floor member.
 6. A transportable hygienic facility comprising: a. a wheeled frame means; b. a structural unit disposed on said frame means, said structural unit comprising a floor member, oppositely disposed sidewall members, oppositely disposed end wall members, and a roof member, said structural unit defining an enclosure. c. at least one partition means within said structural unit, said at least one partition means being comprised of a pair of retractable partition members disposed in mutually parallel relationship, each one of said partition members being carried by a different one of said sidewall members and extending over a major part of the width of said enclosure, said partition means dividing said enclosure into a plurality of rooms and defining a passageway connecting two adjacent ones of said rooms; d. dressing facilities in a first one of said rooms, said dressing facilities comprising lockers and seating facilities; and e. bathroom facilities in a second one of said rooms, said bathroom facilities comprising a shower, a toilet, and a wash basin.
 7. A transportable hygienic facility as defined in claim 6 wherein said partition members are disposed in substantially perpendicular relationship with said sidewall members. 